Twist lock arrangement for tying container down

ABSTRACT

A chassis-to-container locking arrangement which includes a housing defined by the lateral end extension of the chassis crossmember, the housing including a cam slot which has a front horizontal slotted portion and said slot having a side vertical slot portion connecting with the front slot portion which side slotted portion allows the handle to move a locking cone to a locked position, with a slightly outwardly sloping lower edge and an inner lower cutout section for entrapping the handle for holding the locking cone in an unlocked position and although the locking cone may be held in either the locked or unlocked position by gravity a biasing spring connected to the handle and the interior of the housing aids in seating the handle in a biased down location attendant to locking or unlocking of the locking cone. By this arrangement the locking cone is rotated 90* in going from its locked position to its unlocked position.

United States Patent 1191 Carr [ TWIST LOCK ARRANGEMENT FOR TYING CONTAINER DOWN [75] Inventor: George W. Carr, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 219,631

[451 Ju1y23, 1974 Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard J. Myers [57] ABSTRACT A chassis-to-container locking arrangement which includes a housing defined by the lateral end extension of the chassis crossmember, the housing including a cam slot which has a front horizontal slotted portion and said slot having a side vertical slot portion connecting with the front slot portion which side slotted portion allows the handle to move a locking cone to a locked position, with a slightly outwardly sloping lower edge and an inner lower cutout section for entrapping the handle for holding the locking cone in an unlocked position and although the locking cone may be held in either the locked or unlocked position by gravity a biasing spring connected to the handle and the interior of the housing aids in seating the handle in a biased down location attendant to locking or unlocking of the locking cone. By this arrangement the locking cone is rotated 90 in going from its locked position to its unlocked position.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TWIST LOCK ARRANGEMENT FOR TYING CONTAINER CROSS REFERENCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a lock arrangement or body securing device for coupling of a removable container on the top of a transporting vehicle frame such as the chassis of a highway semi-trailer.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known in the prior art to provide various types of coupling devices which tie a container down on a support such as a highway trailer chassis in order to prevent vertical as well as horizontal movementof the container relative to the chassis. It is desirableto provide for a guide or slot .which insures sufficient movement of the locking handle of the locking cone for placing the locking cone in either the locked position or the unlocked position. Also, it is desirous that the locking handle in both the locked and unlocked position is within the perimeter of the chassis and container and is protected against damage. This is whatis provided in the subject invention.

This invention relates to a novel lock arrangement for connecting the containers to the chassis of highway trailers.

More particularly, the invention provides for positiveness of the locking system to lock the container to the chassis of a highway semi-trailer by designing the locking system to take advantage of the force of gravity on the locking handle and the complexity of the path of movement required of the locking handle to reach the unlocked position. The inventive lock arrangement is so designed that for the locking handle to escape slot confinement in its locking slot, the locking handle must move simultaneously in vertical and horizontal planes. The frictional force in horizontal movement and the up grade movement of the slanted edge in the locking slot receiving the handle will act as an additional deterrent to accidental unlocking at the time of bouncing of the vehicle or semi-trailer on the highway.

The simplicity of the locking slot effects a positive locking and the handle, in both locked and unlocked positions, is within the perimeter of the chassis and the container and is protected against damage and the handle does not protrude down where it could cause damage to the tires. Such twist lock arrangements are located at each corner of the container and chassis for securely tying the container on the chassis.

These and otherobjects and advantages will become apparent from reference to the following description,

appended claims and attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lateral end of a crossmember of a chassis carrying the novel containerto-cha'ssis twist lock arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 and showing the locking cone in the locked position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the locking cone in-the unlocked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to US. Pat. application Ser. No. 98,343, there is shown a trailer including a chassis supporting a removable container thereon. The container is coupled to the chassis by a front .pair of chassis-tocontainer locking means and a rear-pair of chassis-tocontainer hold down locking means. The front pair of locking meansprovidedfor'horizontal coupling of the container to the chassis and the pair of rear locking means provide for vertical coupling with the container. The chassis incorporates a main frame including longitudinal members and end crossmembers. The container is provided with bottom corner castings each having an end opening and a bottom opening.

Attention is now to be directed to FIGS. l-5 of the instant application where it is seen that the locking means or twist lock structure is very similar to the type of front locking means or twist lock structure 5 shown in said application Ser. No. 98,343, and this locking means is located on the lateral end portions or extensions 7 of both the rear and front end crossmembers 9 of the chassis or underframe. Each lateral end extension portion 7.includes a top plate portion 10 and a bottom plate portion 11, a rear end plate portion 12 and a front end plate portion'13 and a lateral or side plate portion 14. The side plate portion is provided with an out-turned flange portion 15 which extends down from the roof or top portion 10 about half way and terminates with a downwardly inwardly sloping edge 16. The extension portion 7 is further provided with a slotted plate portion 17 which has a front wall 18 including a lower wall section 19 and an upper wall section 20 having a side-turned plate portion 21, the plate portions 20, 21 and 18 defining slot means 22 with the upper plate portion 15 and the side plate 14. A side sloped plate portion 23 connects the front plate portion 13 with the slotted plate portion 17. The plate portions 13, 23, 17, ll, 10, 12 and 14 define the twist lock housing portion 24 in which is stored the locking handle 25 through which extends, via the roof or top plate portion 10, the rotatable locking cone structure or locking pin 26. The handle 25 is an elongated rod-like member which extends in and out of the housing 24 and connects with the U-shaped yoke member 27 by its trunnion arm 28, the other trunnion arm 29 having a downwardly extending extension 30 for connecting the upper end 31 of the spring 32 which has a lower end 33 coupled to the opening 34 in the bottom plate 11 of the housing 24; Since the wall portion 23"of the housing is sloped, it offsets the-slotted plate portion 17 inwardly of the front face plate portion 13 in a recessed fashion so that when the handle 25 is moved through the slot means 22 it is fairly well within the confines of the housing 24 so that it cannot be hit or become an obstruction or in any way damage the vehicle tire.

The slot means 22, as defined by the plate portions 20, 21, 17 and 14, has a lower edge or horizontal sloping edge portion 35 and an upper edge portion 36 and side edge portions 37 and 38 and an inner cutout portion 39 defined by'horizontal edge 40 and vertical edge '41 in the plate portion 17. lt is to be noted that the hitting the bottom plate 1 l.

The construction of the locking cone 26 is of the standard type and-has anelongated head 26a and is provided with long sides 46 and 47 and short cone sides 48 and '49. The cone shaft50 extends from the head 26a and is provided with a pivot pin52 connecting the shaft with the U-shaped yoke member 27. The shear block member 50a is welded on the top plate'portion 10 of the end extension 7 of the crossmember 9 through which extends the shaft 50 of the locking cone or pin 26. By this arrangement, the lower end of the handle may be picked up and pivoted about pivot pin 51 within the side slot opening 52 to a raised position and then be rotated 90 tothe left as looked at in the perspective view of FIG-. 1, with the handle riding upwardlyalong the sloped edge 35 toward the cutout portion 39-where the handle fits into such cutout portion 39. The lower end of the handle in the locked position of the cone rests against the stop plate 53 in the bottom ofthe vertical slot 52. As the handle moves along the edge 35 toward'the cutout portion 39, the handle is rotating the cone whence the handle falls into the cutout portion 39 into the unlocked position of the locking cone. As the handle is moved in the opposite direction down the sloping edge 35 and into the slot portion 52 and turns down by gravity to the lowered position in slot portion 52, the handle puts the locking cone in the locked position. Thus, thesloped edge 35 acts as a guide for the handle, as does the edge 36, and also the side edge portions 37 and 38 act as guides for the handle. In case the handle should be left half closed, it will have a tendency to slide down the sloped edge 35 toward the lockedposition. Positiveness of this locking arrangement is assured by the force of gravity on the handle and the complexity of the path of movement of the handle at the time of bouncing, as when the container is locked'on a chassis and the trailer is in road operation. To escape the slot confinement, the handle must be moved simultaneously in vertical and horizontal planes. The frictional force in horizontal movement and the up grade movement of the slanted or sloped edge 35 in the slot means 22 will act as an additional deterrent to accidental unlocking.

Thus, the twist lock design has the advantages of simplicity, of a slot with effectiveness of positive locking, and the handle in both locked and unlocked positions is within the perimeter of the chassis and container and is protected against damage; nor does the handle protrudedown where it would cause damage tothe tires and such an arrangement provides ease of operation with the use of only one hand of the operator.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustratethe invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a highway trailer including a chassis having a plurality of crossmembers, a coupling assembly including a plurality of coupler devices located on lateral ends of the crossmembers, with each coupler device comprising;

a locking housing,

a locking pin extending through the housing and a locking handle connecting with the pin for rotating same,

said locking housing-having a first vertical wall portion recessed within the outer end of said housing and a second verticalwall portion recessed within said housing and at a transverse angle'to said first wall portion,

each wall portion having means defining a slotted portion for receiving the locking handle therethrough, I

said firstwall slotted portion having a generally horizontal slot and retaining means holding said handle in an unlocked position,- I

said second wall'slotted portion having a generally vertical slot extending downward from the horizontal slot whereby said handle can move upwardly through the vertical slot and through the'horizontal slot to the retaining means in moving the locking pin between locked and unlocked positions, respectively,

said first wall slotted portion also including guide means enabling the handle to move from a partially locked position between said unlocked and locked positions to said locked position in response to gravitational force, and I said guide means including a handle supporting edge defining a lower edge of said generally horizontal slot extending to and intersecting with said vertical slot and having a downward slope from said unlocked position toward said locked position sufficient to facilitate slidable movement of the handle therealong in response to gravitational force.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and

said retaining means including a cutout portion below said handle supporting edge and at an end thereof for supporting the handle and the locking pin thereby in the unlocked position.

3. The invention according to claim 1, and

said locking housing including a bottom, and

spring biasing means connected between said handle and said bottom for urging the handle downwardly in the locked, unlocked and intermediate positions.

4. A coupler device for attaching a container to a chassis of a highwaytrailer comprising:

a container locking'housing including a top wall and sidewall means attached thereto; means defining an aperture in said top wall;

a vertically extending locking pin rotatably mounted I and locked positions, with the locked position occurring at the generally vertical slot and the unlocked position occurring at a point along the generally horizontal slot removed therefrom;

said means defining a generally horizontal slot including guide means enabling the handle to move from a partially locked position between said unlocked and locked positions to said locked position in resonse to gravitational force thereon; and

said guide means including a'lower handle supporting slot edge extending to and intersecting with said vertical slot and having a downward slope from said unlocked position sufficient to facilitate slidable movement of the handle therealong in response to gravitational force.

5. The invention according to claim 4, and

said means defining a generally horizontal slot including a cut out portion at said unlocked position which extends below the upper portion of said downwardly sloping edge for supporting the handle means in the unlocked position.

6. The invention according to claim 4, and

said side wall means including a first vertical wall having said generally horizontal slot therein and a second vertical wall positioned generally transverse to said first vertical wall having said generally vertical slot therein.

7. The invention according to claim 4, and

biasing means connected with said handle for holding said handle, selectively, in the locked and unlocked positions.

8. The invention according to claim 4, and

said housing including a bottom, and

said biasing means comprising a spring connected to said bottom such that said handle is biased downwardly in the locked, unlocked and intermediate positions. 

1. In a highway trailer including a chassis having a plurality of crossmembers, a coupling assembly including a plurality of coupler devices located on lateral ends of the crossmembers, with each coupler device comprising; a locking housing, a locking pin extending through the housing and a locking handle connecting with the pin for rotating same, said locking housing having a first vertical wall portion recessed within thE outer end of said housing and a second vertical wall portion recessed within said housing and at a transverse angle to said first wall portion, each wall portion having means defining a slotted portion for receiving the locking handle therethrough, said first wall slotted portion having a generally horizontal slot and retaining means holding said handle in an unlocked position, said second wall slotted portion having a generally vertical slot extending downward from the horizontal slot whereby said handle can move upwardly through the vertical slot and through the horizontal slot to the retaining means in moving the locking pin between locked and unlocked positions, respectively, said first wall slotted portion also including guide means enabling the handle to move from a partially locked position between said unlocked and locked positions to said locked position in response to gravitational force, and said guide means including a handle supporting edge defining a lower edge of said generally horizontal slot extending to and intersecting with said vertical slot and having a downward slope from said unlocked position toward said locked position sufficient to facilitate slidable movement of the handle therealong in response to gravitational force.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and said retaining means including a cutout portion below said handle supporting edge and at an end thereof for supporting the handle and the locking pin thereby in the unlocked position.
 3. The invention according to claim 1, and said locking housing including a bottom, and spring biasing means connected between said handle and said bottom for urging the handle downwardly in the locked, unlocked and intermediate positions.
 4. A coupler device for attaching a container to a chassis of a highway trailer comprising: a container locking housing including a top wall and side wall means attached thereto; means defining an aperture in said top wall; a vertically extending locking pin rotatably mounted within the housing and having a head portion extending outwardly from the aperture; means defining a generally horizontal slot and a generally vertical slot extending downward from said generally horizontal slot in said side wall means; handle means pivotally connected to the locking pin and extending from said housing through said generally horizontal slot for movement along the generally horizontal and generally vertical slots to thereby rotate said locking pin between unlocked and locked positions, with the locked position occurring at the generally vertical slot and the unlocked position occurring at a point along the generally horizontal slot removed therefrom; said means defining a generally horizontal slot including guide means enabling the handle to move from a partially locked position between said unlocked and locked positions to said locked position in resonse to gravitational force thereon; and said guide means including a lower handle supporting slot edge extending to and intersecting with said vertical slot and having a downward slope from said unlocked position sufficient to facilitate slidable movement of the handle therealong in response to gravitational force.
 5. The invention according to claim 4, and said means defining a generally horizontal slot including a cut out portion at said unlocked position which extends below the upper portion of said downwardly sloping edge for supporting the handle means in the unlocked position.
 6. The invention according to claim 4, and said side wall means including a first vertical wall having said generally horizontal slot therein and a second vertical wall positioned generally transverse to said first vertical wall having said generally vertical slot therein.
 7. The invention according to claim 4, and biasing means connected with said handle for holding said handle, selectively, in the locked and unlocked pOsitions.
 8. The invention according to claim 4, and said housing including a bottom, and said biasing means comprising a spring connected to said bottom such that said handle is biased downwardly in the locked, unlocked and intermediate positions. 